A boat has a system for converting a utility space used for garaging a dinghy and formed under the cockpit of the boat into an additional living cabin when the dinghy is removed from the garage.
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19. A boat having a cockpit floor spaced above a water line and a lower deck floor spaced downwards from the water line so that the lower deck floor and the cockpit floor define a space therebetween in an aft end of the boat opening to an exterior of the boat, the boat comprising a divider reciprocally displaceable within the space between a first and second position, in the first position, the space is being undivided and configured to be a living cabin, and in a second position, the space being divided into an upper subspace and a lower subspace, the upper subspace being dimensioned to selectively retain equipment, the divider being adapted to guide said equipment from the exterior of the boat into the upper subspace and conversely.
1. A boat structure comprising:
a cockpit; a floor spaced from the cockpit, the floor and the cockpit defining a space therebetween in an aft end of the boat structure, the space being openable to an outside of the boat structure; and a divider displaceable within the space between a closed position and an open position, in the closed position the divider extending between and spaced from the cockpit and the floor so that the space is divided into an upper volume configured to garage a dinghy and a lower volume, the divider supporting a dinghy while the dinghy is displaceable through the aft end of the boat structure from the outside thereof into the upper volume of the space and conversely, and in the open position the divider being positioned so that the space is undivided and configured to be a living cabin. 9. A boat comprising:
a hull provided with a lower floor and extending along a longitudinal axis; a cockpit floor arranged in an aft area of the boat and spaced upwards from the lower floor of the hull to define a singular space therebetween; an arrangement including a toilet, a sink, a drain, and a berth provided in the singular space; a divider displaceable within the singular space between the lower and cockpit floors and pivotal about a pivot axis, which extends parallel to the longitudinal axis, between an open position, in which the singular space is undivided and used as a living cabin, and a closed position, in which the divider extends across and divides the singular space into an upper garage space and a lower foot space, the upper garage space being dimensioned and shaped to receive a dinghy, the divider having an inner side facing the lower foot space in the closed position of the divider and provided with a layer of waterproof material, the layer of waterproof material being sandwiched between and coupled to a bed and to the inner side of the divider so that the bed is displaceable with the divider and accessible in the open position of the divider.
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a molded unit extending between opposite longitudinal sides of the boat and defining a stateroom extending laterally from the lower foot space, the lower foot space being provided with a sloped floor to drain water and with a partition extending from the lower floor upwards and defining a storage compartment in the lower foot space, the partition having a top side terminating at a distance from the cockpit floor and hingedly supporting the divider.
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1. Filed of the Invention
The invention relates to a structure of cruising boats and motor yachts. Particularly, the invention relates to a motor yacht arrangement directed to the efficient use of living and tender storage space and a system for providing such an arrangement.
2. Background of the Related Art
Aesthetics, comfort and cost are three principles every boat designer must deal with while constructing a cruising boat. Often, these principles collide with one another, and a relatively fast and inexpensive boat may suffer from lack of comfort and space Alternatively, a comfortable boat can be prohibitively expensive. Achieving an acceptable compromise without significantly sacrificing any of the above-stated principles is a haunting task causing boat designers to look for new materials, and to use the latest achievements in electronics, mechanics and boat construction.
In boat construction and design, the problems encountered are both functional and aesthetical. Creating a true motor yacht requires the melding of art and science--a skillful blend of the craftsman's artistry with the best boat building technologies available. Particularly, the efficient use of the boat space offers a unique challenge for a boat designer. An optimal boat design is a function of multiple components; however, the starting point is always related to the dimensions of the boat to be designed. What can be easily accomplished on a larger watercraft cannot be incorporated in a design of a smaller boat without bold engineering innovations. Sometimes miniscule improvements of a standard boat design can lead to enormous advantages, such as enhanced living conditions and an increase in comfort of crewmembers and passengers Accordingly, the marketability of the improved watercraft can be favorably affected as well.
For instance, motorboats, cruisers and motor yachts, usually more than 30 feet long, commonly carry smaller boats or dinghies used for a variety of purposes, such as local trips when a watercraft is at port. Many designs of cruisers, boats and motor yachts have long incorporated swim or sports platforms mounted to the stern of the boat's hull and used in association with a variety of sports activities, such as diving, waterskiing and the like. However, in view of the dramatic increase in the popularity of personal watercraft, the swim platform is also often being used as a storage site for dinghies. Accordingly, storing a dinghy on the swim platform, which is sometimes called a sports platform, defeats all other purposes for which this platform can be effectively used.
More sophisticated boat designs feature a tender garage sized to receive the entire length of the dinghy. Considering that motor yachts of this kind have capacity for cruises with long stops at ports, the dinghy can be extensively used for local trips. However, the use of the garage space for dinghy, which is often large, in addition to its direct purpose, is typically limited to storing purposes. Accordingly, when the dinghy is in use, a large space that could be effectively used for additional purposes, such as temporary living quarters, remains unexploited.
Still other designs directed to a boat structure having the dinghy stored on a deck. These designs are associated with a mechanism, such as a crane, operative to lift the dinghy onto the deck from the water. Such a design may have a few disadvantages. First, the crane is costly. Second, this mechanism is a highly visible structure occupying a relatively large area and diminishing an aesthetical appeal of the boat. Third, high visibility of the dinghy may negatively affect the aesthetics of the boat as well. Finally, a deck, particularly the one adjacent the flybridge, like a swim or sports platform, may be used for other purposes, such as sunbathing Storing the dinghy on the deck precludes the crew and passengers from using the deck for these purposes.
It is, therefore, desirable to provide a boat structure having a balance of style, utility and comfort. Also a structural boat arrangement including a singular space suitable for use as a utility space and as a living quarter is desirable as well, as is a system for providing such an arrangement.
Consistent with the foregoing needs and requirements, this invention relates to a boat structure with a unique arrangement of singular boat space that can be efficiently and alternatively used as a garage and as a living quarter. In particular, in accordance with the invention, the boat structure has a singular space, which is both uniquely convenient for displacement of the dinghy from and into this space and, when the dinghy is not garaged, useful as a comfortable living quarter or cabin. The living cabin is spacious and equipped with all necessary amenities that provide the cabin's occupants with a comfortable lifestyle.
In accordance with another aspect of the invention, the motor yacht has a system operable for converting the singular space adapted to store the dinghy and extending between the boat's floor and the bottom of the cockpit into the living cabin having a size which is unprecedented for a 50-70 fly-bridge foot motor boat.
The inventive design has numerous advantages. The main advantage, obviously, is that the motor yacht is provided with an additional living space when the dinghy is out A further advantage stems from the fact that the cabin's occupants have all necessary amenities and, in addition, a direct access to the swim platform which can be used for various recreational purposes. Accordingly, the cabin provides an interior environment where--depending on the weather--the occupants can socialize, comfortably rest and enjoy the unique location of the cabin next to the water. Thus, the inventive arrangement provides the motor yacht with an elegant, functional, and mature structure.
A further aspect of the invention includes a drain system, which allows for watering and, thus, for cleaning of the garage space. The drain system is constructed to prevent water from penetrating into the foot and storage space of the living cabin located immediately below the garage space.
Yet a further inventive aspect of the invention is directed to a molded unit mounted under the cockpit and having two compartments, one of which defines the footspace of the convertible living cabin. The other compartment defines a space designed to be used as a stateroom. The molded unit, as a whole, is formed so that it conforms to the floorplan of the boat defined by longitudinal and cross reinforcing beams. In particular, the structure of the molded unit has locations arranged in each of the compartments and designed to accommodate toilets, sinks, drains and other amenities, which are all located in sunken areas between the beams. As a result, all of the components installed on the molded unit do not add to the overall height of the boat which is, thus, designed to have a cockpit area positioned relatively low with respect to the waterline, a feature which contributes to the elegant boat line.
The above and other features, objects and advantages will become more readily apparent from the description of the preferred embodiment accompanied by the flowing drawing, in which:
A boat designed in accordance with the invention has a unique structural arrangement for a singular space provided in the aft area between the lowest floor of the boat and the underside of the cockpit. The inventive structural arrangement allows the singular space to be selectively used as a dinghy garage/utility space and as a living quarter provided with the necessary amenities.
Referring to
As shown in
In accordance with the main concept of the invention directed to the efficient use of the boat space, the singular aft space is arranged to be alternatively used as a garage 34 for a dinghy 36 (
According to another embodiment, the aft space is provided with an assembly for converting this space from the garage into the living cabin. In particular, as shown in
An assembly for converting the garage 34 into the additional living cabin 46 and vice versa includes a simple panel or hatch 38 pivotable between a closed (
The hatch 38 extends from a swim platform 26 (
Turning to
It is essential that water entering the garage 34, as the dinghy 36 is being pulled in, be quickly drained to prevent flooding of the foot space 66. Furthermore, when the dinghy is removed from the garage 34, it is desirable to clean the hatch 38, which also necessitates the installation of a drain assembly. These requirements are met by a drainage system including a main drain outlet 40, which, as shown in
The molded unit can be used with the first embodiment of the invention, wherein the garage and living cabin are arranged within a singular space convertible by virtue of displacing the dinghy in and out of the space, and with the other embodiment of the invention featuring the assembly for converting the utility compartment into the living cabin by means of the hatch 38. Although the molded unit, as shown in
The molded unit is structured to have its contour conforming to the geometry of the floor 28 of the boat 10 which, as explained below, contributes to the overall aesthetics of the inventive boat. As shown in
Returning to
As shown in
The dimensions of the living cabin 46 allows for a tall person to stand upright, without touching the bottom of the cockpit. Therefore, as the storage space is converted into the living cabin, the occupants can relax there with comfort. In addition, as illustrated in
While the invention has been disclosed with respect to preferred embodiments, various changes can be made without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the appending claims.
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